Number of traffic lights up by 30 per cent

The number of traffic lights on Britain's roads has increased by nearly a third in eight years, a report revealed today, prompting calls for an overhaul of jam-causing junctions.

The study by the RAC Foundation reveals numbers jumped by around 30 per cent between 2000 and 2008 to more than 25,000 sets across the country.

The report by former national transport and planning chief Irving Yass revealed traffic signals equipped to give priority to buses went up from 3,801 at the beginning of 2007 to 8,425 at the end of 2008.

The review, called Every Second Counts, resulted in calls by transport chiefs for the number of junctions to be reduced to cut congestion and speed up traffic.

The number of light-controlled junctions in the West Midlands has grown, with one recent example being the overhaul of the island near Walsall Arboretum.

The roundabout was dug up and replaced with a five-arm traffic light junction as part of a £23 million ring road development which was completed in 2009.

Yet a survey found motorists' journey times were being worsened by a minute.

In Dudley, Burnt Tree Island is being replaced by a four-arm crossroads at a cost of £12m.

RAC director Professor Stephen Glaister said: "Depending when and where you are, traffic lights can ease your journey or be a source of frustration.

"It is plain that lights have an important role to play but with ever more-congested streets they need to be very finely tuned to ensure they are not doing more harm than good — and that means they must react to changing traffic conditions."

The report also said The Department for Transport should consider carrying out trials of flashing amber lights at times when there is little traffic, which would allow drivers to proceed with caution at junctions. It said authorities should consider standardising the green man invitation to cross period at six seconds rather than the usual 10 seconds.

It also said local authorities should see if they can remove traffic lights or replace them with alternatives such as mini-roundabouts.